That's not meant to absolve the Bears from their other issues -- poor tackling, lack of a pass rush, lack of awareness and failure to keep their gap integrity -- but these injuries have forced the Bears to play certain individuals they did not expect to have to lean on when the season began.

There was a reason the Bears preferred to start veteran Williams at middle linebacker over second-round pick Jon Bostic in Week 1, despite Williams' missing most of the preseason with a calf injury.

The Bears' plan did not call for fourth-round pick Khaseem Greene to be the weakside linebacker. Zack Bowman is an experienced reserve cornerback, but Tillman is arguably the best defensive back in Bears history.

During the good times of Lovie Smith's tenure, as the defense caused takeaways by the bunches and won games for a flaccid offense, the saying went "The star of the Bears' defense is the defense."

All for one and one for all, and all that. But what happens when the defense isn't the star anymore?

Well, this happens. The Bears are dead last in the NFL in opponent rushing yards (153.6). That's fine when you cause a bunch of takeaways, but that's not really happening, either.

What did you expect? Forget the narratives. You can't blame all of this on a new defensive coordinator who wisely kowtowed to the status quo and the veterans. Injuries have decimated this team and this season.

Add to the injuries poor play by the safeties, and a front seven of mostly rookies and castoffs have turned the Bears' defense into a sieve.

It's tough to watch. You can bet the Bears' first pick in the 2014 draft is a defensive end or a safety.

Understandably, it's tough to just throw up your hands and say "Oh, the injuries!" when there are players out there who should be able to keep opponents under, say, 200 yards rushing, but there is a reality to deal with here.

This is a franchise-changing season, because the Bears are going to have to rebuild the defense around, well, nobody. There are no more keepers on this defense, which is scary.

Briggs' loss has been most evident as teams have averaged 204.4 rushing yards since he left the Redskins game with a shoulder injury. Washington rushed for 209 yards that game.

The Bears haven't loaded up on takeaways, either, with five in five games since the bye. Defensive end David Bass' interception return for touchdown against Baltimore was the real highlight.

The Bears used to be able to count on a nasty defense making up for the shortcomings on offense. Those days are over.